hughes



(No Model.)

W. W. HUGHES.

GASTBR. No. 467,873. Patented Jan. 26, 1892.

ma... WH@ m Samoa/who@ Mgg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM lV. HUGHES, OF URBANA, OlHO, ASSIGNOR TO ROWLAND H.

HUGHES AND CORNELIA B. HUGHES, OF SAME PLACE. Y

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,873, dated January 26, T892.

Application filed November l2, 1891. Serial No, 411,734. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Urban a, in the county of Champaign and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany'- ing drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in casters, and relatesA more especially to that class which are provided with two floorwheels, secured upon an axle arranged to oscillate and adjust itself to the inequalities of the loor-surface, this invention being designed more particularly as an improvement upon the patent issued to James T. Miller June 3, 1884; and the invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a Vertical sectional view of a caster constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view' showing the parts of the caster separated.

A refers to the axle-head, which has formed integral therewith or attached thereto spindles a a, upon which the wheels are mounted in the usual manner. Centrally the axle is provided with an upwardly-projecting portion of, from which projects a spindle D at right angles therewith. This spindle is provided about centrally with a transvere aperture b, through which passes a stop and securing-pin b.

The axle A and spindles d a and B may all be formed integral with each other, or the axle may be made of a suitable block or forging, and have the spindles secured thereto in any suitable manner. It will be observed that the projecting portion of the axle is formed with parallel sides and rounded end, the purpose of which will be hereinafter inentioned.

spindle B registering therewith, so that when the pin b is passed through the apertures the ends thereof will contact wit-l1 the ends of the slots c and limit the oscillating movement ofthe spindle-bearing frame upon the spindle. This construction also prevents the spindle being removed when the pin is in place.

The spindle-bearing frame C is enlarged centrally to provide an upwardly-projecting portion, which presents a shoulder CZ and a vertically-projecting pin D beyond, said pin having adjacent to the shoulder a cylindrical portion forming a bearing for an anti-fric tion wheel or disk E. Above this bearing the pin is tapered and provided with a collar d', the cylindrical end being adapted to be passed through a fastening plate and secured thereto in any suitable manner. The fastening-plate F may be of any shape desired, so as to suit dierent styles of furniture to which the caster may be applied, and has in its upper surface a recess f, within which the upper end of the pin D and securing means will lie when the parts are assembled, the plate beneath the recess being increased in thickness to bear upon the collar d, as shown. The fastening plate has formed integral therewith a box or casing G, the lower edgc of which is preferably reamed out to provide a shoulder g, against which the face of the wheel or disk E will abut, and, if desired, this box or casing may be cut away at suitable intervals to remove part of the shoulder g, so that the disk will not bear all around, thereby allowing the same to move more freely than if a continuous bearing was pro vided.

The pin D is adapted to have a rotary mo tion, and not an oscillating one, as is sometimes provided in this class of casters.

The box or casing G is provided with alock Il, which consists of two plates hinged to each other, the upper plate being formed integral with the box or attached thereto. The lower plate 7L is bifurcated and adapted, when IOO swung down, to engage with the vertical tal spindle, as will more fully appear by ret'-v 'erence to the patent previously referred to, and I do not claim the construction shown therein'as my invention; but

VVhatIdo claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

'1. In-atoasten'the combinationof anaxle` having spindles a a and '1B rigidlyconneeted thereto, supporting-Wheels mounted on thel spindles ct a, Vand a spindle bearing frame mounted onthe spindle B and having slots c, whichregister with an aperture in the spindle through'which'the securing-pin passes, sub-v stantially as lset forth.

2. In a caster, the combination of a fasten-V, ing-plate having a depending box or casing,- a spindle-bearing frame secured thereto, a

horizontal spindle seouredwithin the spindlebearing frameand rigidly connected with the axle upon which the'caster-Wheels are.

mounted, and a locking device secured-to the box or casing and provided with a'bifurcated portion, which is adapted to be swung in engagement with the spindle -bearing frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In a easter, a fastening-plate having a box or casing G formed integral therewith,

saidbox or casing having an internal shoulder, a central aperture in the fastening-plate, a spindle-bearing frame having a vertical pin with a cylindrical portion, upon which is mounted a Wheel or disk E, means for connecting the pin to the fastening-plate, caster- Wheels mounted on an axle, and a spindle B, adapted-to enter the spindle-bearing frame and be retained therein by a stop-pin b', substantially as setl forth.

4. vIn a easter constructed substantially'as shown, a loeksecured -to the dependingeasing of thefastening-plate, said Alock-consisty ing oftwo plates, one otlwhieh isfbifurcated,a

spindle-bearing frame,vand an axle constructed substantially as shown, the bifurcatedzportion of the lock beingadapted to be thrown in engagement vwith the spindle bearing frame, for thefpurpose set forth.

'In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presencevof two witnesses.

VILLIAM IV. HUGHES.

lVitnesses:

W. F. RING, JAMES SWISHER. 

